the chief priests and the teachers of the law; and that he would be killed and be raised
on the third day. Then Peter took him aside and began to reproach him, “Never, Lord!
No, this must never happen to you!” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me,
Satan! You are an obstacle in my path. You are thinking not as God does, but as
people do.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If you want to follow me, deny yourself.
Take up your cross and follow me. For whoever chooses to save his life will lose it,
but the one who loses his life, for my sake, will find it. What will one gain by winning
the whole world, if he destroys his soul? Or what can a person give, in exchange for
his life? Know, that the Son of Man will come, in the glory of his Father with the holy
angels, and he will reward each one according to his deeds.
READ: Jeremiah calls out to God because his service as a prophet has brought
him embarrassment and derision. Yet despite those trials, he cannot stop
sharing God’s word. Paul calls his readers to pour themselves out on behalf
of others, rejecting a culture that encourages pride and selfishness. Jesus
makes it clear to his disciples that following him will not be easy, but it will
have a great reward.
REFLECT: For the most part, people seek pleasure and try to avoid pain.
But Jesus reminds us that suffering will always be part of a disciple’s life.
Our goal as disciples is to become more and more like our teacher. So we
too take up our cross each day, dying to our selfish desires and pouring out
our lives in love of God and neighbor. Our cross may be small: being patient
with a tiresome colleague, lending a listening ear to someone who is lonely,
extending a helping hand when needed. But if we follow Jesus in carrying
the cross, we will follow him to heaven as well.
PRAY: Lord Jesus, give me the strength to take up my cross and follow you.
ACT: Offer some small sacrifice to God for the needs of the world.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023